The Chinese market has become a strong growth engine for German carmakers like Volkswagen AG and the BMW Group. 

Data shows that Volkswagen delivered 3.98 million vehicles in China last year, up 12.2 percent year over year. Of those, Audi handed over 589,000 cars to Chinese customers, showing a year-over-year increase of 3.7 percent. 

The BMW Group's China sales hit 2,367,603 units in 2016, its best ever sales in the country.

To tap deeper into the Chinese market, German companies have announced new strategic plans.

According to Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG as well as President & CEO of Volkswagen Group China, the auto manufacturer will pour more resources into China at the strategic level, and will build a new center in Beijing with a focus on digitalization and autonomous driving technologies. 

Moreover, the company will collaborate with Chinese partners on car-sharing, used car e-commerce, and online car-hailing. 

Its Audi nameplate has signed a ten-year cooperation plan with FAW Group, vowing to deepen its cooperation with the Chinese company in the fields including digitalization, traffic services, and modern marketing. 

The marque also made commitment to the local production of auto parts for electric vehicles in China. 

While boosting the infrastructure construction, the BMW Group will introduce 14 exhilarating new models in China this year. 

The auto manufacturer also promised further efforts to boost branding, digitalization, and experiential marketing to win over more customers, especially young ones.

Email: lansuying@nbd.com.cn